RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky soccer returns from a two-match road swing to host Liberty, who is unbeaten in ASUN play and atop the conference standings on Friday, October 21 at 1:00 p.m. in Richmond.
 
Friday's contest with Liberty (11-3-3, 7-0-2 ASUN) is scheduled to air live on ESPN+. As always, admission is free to the EKU Soccer Field for the duration of the season, fans are encouraged to arrive early to claim a free t-shirt from EKU Athletics Marketing.
 
On Tuesday night EKU (8-5-2, 4-3-2 ASUN) clinched a placement in the ASUN Conference Championship from Oct. 27-Nov. 4. As of Thursday, the team is scheduled to hit the road next week and head to one of two host campus sites. The lone contest this week against the Flames will conclude the ASUN regular season portion of the 2022 schedule.
 
The Colonels are coming off a 1-0 win over Jacksonville State last Sunday, senior Myla Sharpless earned the game-winner off a penalty kick in the 37th minute. Eastern Kentucky would go on to hold the Gamecocks scoreless for the final 63 minutes to secure the win.
 
Senior Maddy Lemery recently moved to T-3rd in program history in game-winning goals (5), also entering the top-10 at EKU in points (22), shots (92), and shots on goal (44). 
 
With a start on Friday, fifth-year Baylee Lanter would enter the top-10 in program history in games started and can continue to climb the record book for career minutes played at 4,663.
 
Junior keeper Carly Dean was given the starting nod in EKU's last three contests, earning two shutouts and 12 saves.
 
Match 17: Eastern Kentucky (8-5-2, 4-3-2 ASUN) vs. Liberty (11-3-3, 7-0-2 ASUN)
- Friday, October 21 – 1 p.m. ET
- EKU Soccer Field – Richmond, Ky.
- Watch ESPN+ 
- Live Stats
 
EKU Soccer Quick Facts
- As of Thursday, Oct. 20, EKU sits at No. 157 in the latest NCAA RPI poll.
- The Colonels rank T-81st in shots (14.13) and 91st in the nation in saves per game (4.73).
- EKU ranks top-8 in the ASUN in goals, points, points per game, save percentage, scoring offense, shot accuracy, shots on goal, shutout percentage, and W/L percentage.
- Lemery leads the team in goals (7), points (14), shots (44), GWG (4), and SOG (23).
- Lanter leads the team in minutes played this season (1201).
 
All-time against Liberty 
- Friday's match is the second meeting between Liberty and EKU, the Colonels claimed the first matchup last season in the ASUN quarterfinals 1-0 in Nashville, Tenn.
 
Scouting the Flames
- Liberty ranks No. 79 in the country according to the NCAA RPI.
- LU has won seven of its last eight matches, including six shutouts.
- The Flames most recent contest ended in a draw at North Florida nil nil.
- Head coach Lang Wedemeyer is in his 23rd overall season, in six seasons with liberty he's compiled a 55-41-14 record.
- The Flames rank top-75 in the nation in scoring offense, goals-against average, points, save percentage, shutout percentage, shots, SOG, and corner kicks.
- Bridie Herman is 44th in the country and first in the ASUN in total assists (6).
- Keeper Ainsley Leja is 12th in the country and first in the ASUN in shutouts (8).
- Junior Rachel DeRuby and senior McKinley Burkett lead the Flames with five goals apiece on the season.
 
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